DNA methylation pattern of Photoperiod‐B1 is associated with photoperiod insensitivity in wheat (Triticum aestivum). Issue 3 (31st July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Han; Guo, Zhiai; Gao, Lifeng; Zhao, Guangyao; Zhang, Wenping; Zhou, Ronghua; Wu, Yongzhen; Wang, Haiyang; An, Hailong; Jia, Jizeng
• Is Part Of: New phytologist. Volume 204:Issue 3(2014)
• Page Start: 682
• Page End: 692
• Publication Date: 2014-07-31
• Subjects: Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/nph.12948
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-646X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="nph12948-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p> <list id="nph12948-list-0001" list-type="bullet"> <list-item> <p>As one of the three key components of the 'Green Revolution', photoperiod insensitivity is vital for improved adaptation of wheat (<italic>Triticum aestivum</italic>) cultivars to a wider geographical range. <italic>Photoperiod‐B1a</italic> (<italic>Ppd‐B1a</italic>) is one of the major genes that confers photoperiod insensitivity in 'Green Revolution' varieties, and has made a significant contribution to wheat yield improvement.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the photoperiod insensitivity of <italic>Ppd‐B1a</italic> alleles from an epigenetic perspective using a combination of bisulfite genomic sequencing, orthologous comparative analysis, association analysis, linkage analysis and gene expression analysis.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Based on the study of a large collection of wheat germplasm, we report two methylation haplotypes of <italic>Ppd‐B1</italic> and demonstrate that the higher methylation haplotype (haplotype a) was associated with increased copy numbers and higher expression levels of the <italic>Ppd‐B1</italic> gene, earlier heading and photoperiod insensitivity. Furthermore, assessment of the distribution frequency of the different methylation haplotypes suggested that the methylation patterns have undergone selection during the wheat breeding process.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Our study suggests that DNA methylation in the regulatory region of the <italic>Ppd‐B1</italic> alleles, which is closely related to copy number variation, plays a significant role in wheat breeding, to confer photoperiod insensitivity and better adaptation to a wider geographical range.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>